Electric sign



June 9, 1936. M. L. NELSON ELECTRIC SIGN Filed sept. 21, 1932 14 sheds-sheet 1 www T@ E@ www www EQ www# il lll] fIIIIIL June 9, 1936. M L` NELSON 2,043,707

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Sept. 21, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 a fj lli; l ,HP h iig-Li June 9, 1936-V M. L. NELSON` ELECTRIC S IGN Filed sept. 2i, 1952 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 www June'9, 1936. M. L. NELSON ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Sept. 21, 1932 14 Sheeis-fSheet 4 Nimh June 9, 1936. M L, NLSON 2,043,707

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Sept. 2l, 1952 14 Sheets-She 5 M. L. NELSON June 9 93G,

ELECTRIC S IGN Filed Sept. 2l, 1952 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 E@ Arrr,

june 9, gf, M, NELSON l 2,04-397? ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Sept. 21,1952 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 M. L. NELSON ELECTRIC SIGN Jun 9, 1936.

Filed Sept. 2l, 1952 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 E6. l0

June 9, 1936. M. L. NELSON 2,043,707

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed sept. v21, 1932 14 sheets-sheet 1o Arr-r.'

\ Num .WANN 5G,

M. L. NELSON ELECTRIC SIGN Filed sept. 21, i932 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 l June 9, 1936n M. L. NELSON 2,043,707

ELECTRIC SIGN med sept. 21, 1932 14 sheets-sheet 12 June'g, 1936. M L NELSON 2,643,707

. ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Sept. 2l, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 ANP 50X June 9, M L. NELSON 2,043,707

ELECTRIC S IGN Filed Sept. 21, 1952 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Inma-ER I E/ Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE ELECTRIC SIGN Application September 21, 1932,*Serial No. 634,139 12 Claims. (Cl. 177-349) This invention relates toimprovements in electrically illuminated signs in which lamps are arranged in lamp boxes, or panels, to display letter or ligure characters in outline. In signs of this character, several rows of lamp boxes are usually provided lto enable the display of letters to form words or other characters for advertising purposes.

'I'he main object ofl the present invention is to provide a sign of the above character which is thoroughly reliable and eiiicient in use, easily operated and controlled from a single typewriter keyboard, and in which the cost of manufacture as well as operation has been reduced to a mini` mum.

One of the main features of the present invention relatesl to the means for coding each of the letters or characters and for transmitting.

prepared while the preceding display is illumi-v nated and in which the preceding display is-put out and replaced by the second or prepared display.

Another feature relates to the means for erasing a prepared display for al single lamp box or the entire prepared display on 'a plurality of lamp boxes.

Another feature relates to the means for skipping an entire rowwof` lamp boxes or a plurality of lamp boxes in a row after a complete word has been prepared br set up on the set-up relay groups to thereby prepare the next row of lamp boxes to receive the registration for display.

A still further feature relates to a time switch and means by which at the time of display the time switch automatically controls the4 numeralmagnets on the typewriter to print the time of day such display, as was just previously printed by the typewriter, was illuminated.

springs shown have been added to the keys to close certain combinationsof circuits when the keys are operated.

Fig. 4 shows a sequence switch SS for connecting the various sources of current to the set-up relays shown in Fig. 5 and to the lamp relays and lamps shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive. The sequence switchSS also connects the time switch TS, shown-in Fig. 11, to the numeral magnets of the Electromatic" printer shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows three sets of row-space relays RSI, RSZ, and RSS in the left-hand portion, and in the right-hand portion shows the rst group of set-up relays SUR-l. eighteenth, nineteenth, and thirty-seventh sets of set-up relays, SUR-2, SUR-I8, 'SUR-I9, and SUR-31, are dlagrammatically illustrated, together with the chain circuitsA connecting the various groups of set-up relays.

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, sho'w the lamp relays, lamps, and circuits therefor for the 'rst lamp box.

Fig. 11 shows a time switchl TS and clock for controlling the Electromatic printer to print the time of day when the lamps of the sign are first illuminated for each display.

Figs. 12 and 13 are to replace Fig. 4 when it is desired to control the electric sign from a remote point. Fig. 12 shows a set of transfer relays TR which pick up the. code as determined bythe keys operated in Fig. 3 and a distributor switch D. A sequence` switch SYS' connects the time switch TS to the numeral magnets in the printer.

Fig. 13 shows a set of pick-up relays PUR which are sequentially connected'to the conductor IIIII by way of the distributor switch D which operatesin synchronism with 'the distributar switch D shown in Fig. 12. A sequence switch SS2 connects .the various sources'of current to the set-up relays shown in'Flg.' 5 and to the lamp -relays and lamps shown in Figs. 6 to 10.

inclusive. o l

Fig. 14 diagrammatically illustrates mechanism for controlling the electric sign from a punched tape or cards.

Fig. 15 illustrates how the key spring combinations are controlled by the keys of the Electromatic printer and how the magnets in turn vcontrol the keys.

Fig. 16-shows a preferable manner of arrang- -ing the lamp boxes of the sign, there being three rows of eighteen lamp boxes.

Fig. 1'7 Shows a single lamp box and the location of each of the fty-eight lamps therein.

Fig. 18 is a chart for indicating when the cir indicating the lamps. Xs in the vertical rows below the characters indicate in the horizontal rows of the lamps when the circuits of lsuch` General description lReferring now to the. Electromatic printer diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3, the printer comprises a motor-driven typewriter such as' dis. closed in the publication of Product Engineering, pages 513 to 516, of November, 1930, and

inthe publication, The Story of Electromatic, published by the Electromatlc Typewriters, Inc., Rochester, New York. During the time the Electromatic printer is in use, the small electric motor for controlling the same is in constant operation and is constantly operating a soft rubber roller. To each character key there has been added a spring combination which is closed when the key is operated. Each numeral character key, in addition to being provided with a spring combination, has beenprovided witha magnet for operating such key and spring combination. The mechanical arrangement by. means of which the key-bar and springs are operated by the magnet is illustrated in Fig. 15. When the numeral magnet is energized, the key-bar, which is linked to the armature of the magnet, is operated to close the spring combination. Also, when any letter character key is operated by hand, the

spring combination associated therewith is closed by the operation of the key-bar.- Whenever a key-bar is operated, a cam thereon comes in contact with the rotating roller. The camthen instantly turns through one-half revolution, and in` so doing actuates the type bar which prints the character. 'I'his operation also causes the complete operation of the spring combination. Each cam is pivoted at one endv of a bell crank, forming part of the linkage it operates. s'top on the side of the cam holds each cam a few thousandths of an inch out of contact with the surface of the roller, but when a key-bar corresponding to a given cam is operated, a spring forces the serrated surface of the cam against the soft rubber roller and the two rotate together without slippage. In so doing, the cam pivot and the link to forced away from the roller. It is this motion, for which the motor supplies the power, that actuates both thegspring combinations and thetype bars. Sincegtliinechanical construction of the Electromatidf, printer is not part of this.i nv;en tion, it is believed that this general description `oi. its operation will suiiice. Any 1'1irtlier'de` Atails regardingthe mechanical operation of this type, of printer..i`nay be had by referring to the aforesaid publications.

A carriage-return magnet, such as |06, has beed added to the printer for operating the carriage-return key to return the' carriage to normal position and to space the paper in the lwellknown manner. A- pair of springs |08 have been provided which. are closed when the carriage reaches its 19th position to operate the carriageretin'n magnet. The carriage-return magnet, in addition to returning the carriage to its normal V,each set-up relay group and is operatively con- Normally, a

,which it is attached are or 1st position, also operates the carriage-return spring combination CR or CRCQA space magnet, such as |01, has also been added to cause y the printer toy operate the space key and spring combination SP. Oli-normal springsv |05 have 5 been added which are normally closed when the carriage of the printer is in normal position and open asvsoon as the carriage moves in its rst step. A display key DIS has also been added.

The error or wipe-out key WO, the back-space 10 key BS, and the carriage-return key CR shownin the dotted rectangle are to be used only with Figs. 12 and 13 when the sign is located at a remote point. The keys WO', BS', and CR shown in the dotted rectangle in Fig. 4 'are the wipe- 15 out, back-space, and carriage-return keys, respectively, which are used in conjunction with Fig. 4 and are tb be substituted for keys WO,

BS, and CR shown in Fig. 3 when the sign is not located at a remote point from the printer. The various spring combinations shown, when operated, connect ground to the conductors to 0, inclusive, included in cable |00, in code combinations. The cable |00 extends in multiple to 25 nected thereto only when the vconnecting relay of such set-up relay group is energized.

The sequence switch SS in Fig. 4 comprises a well-known rotary step-by-step type of switch in which the wipers 2H to 2M, inclusive, move 30 one step in the direction indicated by the arrow upon each deenergizaticn of the motor magnei; 204. The relays 20| to 203, inclusive, to-

gether with the off-normalsprings 205, which close when the wipers move oi normal, con- 35 trol the stepping operation of the switch at the A of the sequence switch bank contacts.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the rst set-uprelay 'group SUR-l comprises a transfer relay 320, a back-space relay 32 a connecting relay 322, and code-receiving relays 34| to 340, inclusive. These 45 code-receiving relays control the circuits to the lamp relays in the rst lamp box shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive. In this particular embodiment there are provided three rows of set-up relay groups with eighteen set-up relay groups in each row. Only the transfer relay 320' of the second set-up relay group SUR-2 and the4 transfer relay 3201'I of the eighteenth set-up relay group SUR- l 8 and the connecting chain circuits of the rst row have been shown, while the second row of set-up relay groups is indicated as starting with set-up relay group SUR-I9 and the thirdrow as starting with set-up relay group SUR- 31, it being understood that there is one set-up relay group for each lamp box as indicated in Fig. 1. A pair of relays, such as 30| .and 302, is provided for each row of set-up relay groups to provide means for switching from one row to the next succeeding row after a complete word has been set up in the first row without the necessity gf operating the space key a plurality of timesli'prthe remaining unoperated set-up relay groulia'iih such a row. 'I'he relays in the rst set-up relaygroup SUR-I operatively connect the lamp relay operate con- 70 ductor 234 to the various conductors, from A to (hyphen) included in the 40 conductor cable indicated by the reference character 400, which extends to the correspondingly indicated conductors (shown bracketed) in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, 75

Y of the rst lamp box.' Each set-up relay gro ,in a similar manner, connects the conductor 234 to its associated lamp relays over acable similar are shown the lamp or character relays which and arrow thereat.

control the circuits to the various lamps in the flrst lamp box. The lamps are indicated by a circle and a reference character, the number of which corresponds to the number shown in Figs. 17 and 18. Each lamp in each lamp box is connected to conductor 236 as indicated by the line While only the detail cire cuits for one lamp box have been shown in Figs. 6 to 10,`inclusive, it will be understood that each lamp box of the electric sign is similar in all respects. A source of commercial power such as 11G-volt or 220volt,A. C. or D. C. current'is supe plied through contacts 2I9 of circuit breaker 2|5 for operating the lamps. The circuits shown in the drawings have been simplied by indicating the Alamps. connected to conductor 236 and to ground to make the drawings easier to read.

The time switch TS shown in Fig. 11 comprises a clock which grounds a conductor every iive seconds, an hour switch, a tens minute switch, a units minute switch,'and a seconds switch. Each of the switches are similar in mechanical construction to the sequence switch SS and operate their wipers one step upon the deenergization of their respective motor magnets. -Briey, every iiv seconds, the seconds switch operates one step and every twelfth step operates the units minute switch one step. Every tenth step of the units minute switch operates the tens minute switch one step, and every sixth step oi.' the tens minute switch operates the hour switch one step. The

lower sets of wipers of the time switch are therefore resting on the numbered conductors, included-V TS for controlling the numeral'magnetsof the printer over the cable |0I when a registered display is first illuminated on the sign.

Referring now to Figs; 12 and 13, the distributor switch D is a rotary stepping switch which manner. The operation of the A keyl also closes the A spring combination (Fig. 3) to connect steps its wipers 0 I2 and I0|3 upon the deenergization of its stepping magnet |005. The transfer relays TR, numbered 1 to 0, inclusive, are connected over the 10 conductorcable |00 to the various spring combinations controlled by the keys in the Electromatic printer in Fig. 3. The transfer relays ground certain conductors terminating in the. distributor switch bank dependent upon the relays operated. The sequence switch SS' is somewhat similar to the sequence switch SS in Fig. 4 and is used in Fig. 12 for connecting the timeA switch TS to the printer. The distributor gswitch D' is'mechanically similar to the distribu-a ftor D and the relays |002, |003, |004, H02, and

with correspondingly numbered conductors. 'Corresponding lpick--up relays APUR are therefore operated to correspond to the transfer relays which are loperated. Only two conductors |0|4 and |0I5 connect the two distributors andfthe'req fore, the electric sign may be operated over these' conductors from a remote point without providing a large number of conductors. The transfer re- Y 4lays TR and distributorA D translate and transmit aoesgo'r codes corresponding to the operated keys of the printer over the conductor |0|4 to the pickup relays and distributor D'. Thesynchronizing of the two distributors is controlled over conductor IMS.

The distributors D and D' make a complete revolution for each code and the pick-up relays control circuits ior operating the set-up relays SUR indicated in Fig. 5. 'I'he sequence switch SS2 is somewhat similar to the sequence switch SS in Fig. 4 and is used for controlling the sources of preventing the operation of a character key of the printer at a time when the distributor D is of! normal.

Fig. 14 diagrammatically represents a manner in which the electric sign may be controlled by a moving tape when the sign is to be controlled automatically instead of manually from the printer. When it is desired to do this, the key |2|3 is pressed and the roller I2 l5 is started in operation by the same key or another key. The roller is made of conducting material -and grounds the various feelers above the roller when such feelers encounter perforations in the tape I2 I'I. In this connection the tape |2I'I would be pre-punched with the display desired and may be` codepunched to close circuits'to relays (not shown)- which stop the roller for a predetermined length depressed.

Detail description Having given a general description of the ap `paratus, the detail circuit descriptions will now be proceededwith.' For this purpose, it will be Yassumed that the` operator at the key board will type, in the same manner as in writing a letter or advertisement, the following:

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC COMPANY ELECTRIC SIGNS Uponoperation of the A key, the printer prints the letter A on the tape and causes the carriage ground to conductors I and 2 included in cablel I 00.

'I'he following is a chart showing which of the various character keys are operated:

Conductors in Conductors in conductors of cable |00 are grounded when -the Before proceeding with the description, it will be further assumed that some display is at present on the sign and therefore circuit breakers 2 0, 2|1 and 2|3 in Fig. 4 are in energized position.

. Circuit breaker 2|5 at contacts 2|9 supplies the commercial source of current for lighting the lamps over common conductor 233, circuit breakcr 2H at contacts 22| connects grounded battery to common conductor 235 for maintaining energized any of the lamp character relays which may at this time be operated, and circuit breaker 2|3 at contacts 222 prepares a circuit for locking up the setup relays over common conductor 233 which extends to the transfer relay in each set-up relay group. Another circuit may also be traced for energizing vthe connecting relay 322 of the first set-up relay group SUR-i as follows: from ground by Way of armature 203 (Fig. 4) and itsresting contact,` armature 201, conductor 232, armature 309 and its resting contact, armature 33d and its resting contact, and through the Winding of connecting relay 322 to battery. Relay 322 at its ten armatures connects the ten coding set-up relays to the ten conductor cable |00 to prepare the. rst set-up relay group for operation.

Responsive to the grounding of conductors i and 2 in cable |00, as a result of the operation of the A key and spring combination, a circuit may be traced over such conductors and armatures 331 and 333 of connecting relay 322 for energizing set-up coding relays 30| and 302.

When the A key is released, ground is removed from conductors I and 2 in cable |00 and transfer relay 320 energizes in series with the set-up relays as follows: from grounded common conductor 233, Winding of transfer relay 320, normally closed springs controlled by armature 333 of back-space relay 32| and through the locking armatures and windings of relays 34| and 342 to battery.v Set-up relays 34| and 342'and transfer relay 320 are maintained energized over this circuit.

Transfer relay 320, upon energizing, at armature 333 transfers the carriage-return conductor 230 to the rst set of row-space relays RSI; at armature 334 'anditsV resting contact opens the circuit of connecting relay 322 which deenergizes and.at its working contact completes a circuit for energizing the connecting relay in the second set-up relay group SUR-2; and atarmature 333 prepares a circuit for the back-space relay 32| in the rst set-up relay group SUR-I. The circuit for energizing the connecting relay in the second set-up relay group SUR-2 may be traced from grounded conductor 232, armature 303 and itsv resting contact, armature 334 and its working lcontact, armature 334' and its resting contact and through the winding oi.' the connecting relay (not shown) to battery. Since all the set-up relay ygroups are similar, the energization o! the -connecting relay in the second set-up relay group SUR-2 connects the-conductors in cable |00 to the ten coding relays in the second group'. By the operation and release of key A, the letter A has been. printed on the tape; coding set-up relays y 34| and 342 in the first set-up relay group have been energized and locked; transfer relay 320 has operated to cause the connecting relay in the second .set-up relay group to energize and connect the cable|00 to the coding relays therein to prepare the second set-up Irelay group for operation. r .c

'I'he operator, upon pressing the U character ker/.causes the printer to 'print the letter U on energized set-up relays in the second set-up relay group over a circuitincluding grounded common conductor 233, winding of transfer relay 320', normally closed spring controlled by the backspace relay, similar to backespace relay 32|,

and through the locking armatures and windings of the energized set-up relays to battery. The transfer relay 320'and the energized set-up relays are maintained energized over this circuit.`

Transfer relay 320', upon energizing, at armature 330' opens the circuit of the connecting relay of the` second set-up relay group at its restl ing contact and at its working contact completes a circuit for energizing the connecting relay of the third set-up relay group SUR-3 (not shown); and at armature 335' prepares a circuit for the back space relay of the second relay group SUR-2.

In the same manner as just described the operator presses the remaining keys to complete the word Automatic, thereby successively grounding the conductors of cable |00 in accordance with the above chart to cause the diierent combinations, corresponding to the keys operated, of setup relays in successive groups to be energized and locked preparatory to operating the lamp relays.

After typing 'the word Automatic, the operator operates the space key SP and then types the word Electric, thereby causing the corresponding 'set-up relays in succeeding groups to be energized and locked in a manner apparent from the ioregoing description.

I Carriage return The carriage of the Electromatic printer has moved one step in response to each actuation of icarriage moves out of its 18th position, springs CR' (Fig. 4) are automatically operated to momentarily ground conductor 230 and springs |08 (Fig. 3) are also automatically operated to momentarily close an obvious circuit for energizing the carriage-return vmagnet |06. In response to the operation of magnet |08, the carriage is automatically returned to its normal or rst posi tion and the paper in the printer has been advanced one step ready'to receive the next line in the well-known manner.

In response to the operation of key CR. and the grounding of conductor 230, a. circuit may be traced by way of said conductor'. amature 333, armature 3 0 and its resting contact, and through the winding of relay 30| to battery for energizing the latter. At armature 301 relay 30| prepares acircuit for. relay 302 which,.however, cannot energize at this time because it is short circuited by ground on both.v conductors 230 and 233. However, as soon as key CR.' is released by the return to normal of the carriage. relay 302 is energized. in series with relay 30| by way oi conductor 233 and armature 301.l Relays 30| and 302 are maintained energized over .this circuit until ground is removed from conductor 233 by the decable |00 in order to receive the codes designate energization of circuit breaker 2 I8.

Relay 302, upon energizing, at armature 300 disconnects the back-space conductor 23| from the ilrst row of set-up relay groups SUR| to SUR- I 8, inclusive, and connects it to the second rowby way of armature 3|2 'and its resting contact; at armature 3|!) opens a point in the original energizing circuit of relay 30| at its resting contact and at its working contact prepares a circuit for relay 303; and at armature 3 09 and 'its working contact closes a circuit for energizing the connecting relay in the rst set-up relay group vSUR|3 in the second row from grounded conductor 232, amature 309 and itsworking contact. armature .3|3 and its resting contact,

Athrough the armature and back contact on the this case, the operator desires to display the word Company in a row provided for eighteen letters, the operator will operate the space key five times and then type the word Company in order to place the word as near as possible in the center ofthe second row. jThe relays in the ilrst five groups in the second row are operated in Aaccordance with the spacecode and the 6th to the 12th groups are voperated in accordance with the codes for the word Company. There still remains six. groups of set-up relays and the operator may operate the space key six times or may operate the carriage-return key CR for faster operation.-

The operation of the carriage-returnkey CR' causes the carriage of the printer to return to normal and to move the paper one'space for printing the next line and in addition grounds conductor 230. A circuit may now be traced from grounded conductor 230 by way of armature 333, armature 3|0 audits working contact, armature 333' of the transfer relay of group SUR-i9, armature 3|! and its resting contact,

and through the winding of relay 303 to battery.

lmature 3M opens a point in theA original energizing circuit oi relay 303A at its resting. contact 'and at its working contact prepares a circuit for relay 305. The circuit for energizing the ccnnecting relay of set-up relay group SUR-31er:- tends by way of grounded conductor 23 and resting contact oi transfer relay (not shown) and through the winding of connecting relay (not shown)V of group SUR-31 to battery; This relay therefore energizes and connects the set-upl coding relays of this group to the conductors inhave been set up or registered by the set-up ture 3?.-9 Vand its working contact, armature 3|3 y and its working contact, armature 3|1, armature described. The operator also presses the carriage-return key CR', causing the carriage to be returned to normalV position, the paper to be moved one step, and the Irelays 305, and 306 l5 tobe energized in a manner apparent from the foregoing description.

Reviewing the foregoing, it will be reinem--` bered that the words Automatic and Electric 20 relay groups in the first "row, thatl the word Company has been registered by the set-up relay groups` in the second row, that the words Electric and Signs have been registered bythe set-up relay groups in the third row, and that the 4carriage of the printer has been returned to its normal position. 'I'he operator may now at any time cause the display of the above registrations by simply depressing the display key DIS. 30

' Set-,up wipe-out makes an error, which is easily checked by reading the printed type onthe paper. For this purpose, it will therefore be assumed that the'. operator in' reading the letters printed on the 40 p'aper discovers that she has made a mistake- 'and has misspelled one of the words, say for instance the word Company.

Y In order to correct this error it is necessary at this time, since the ,completedisplay) is registered, to wipe out the entire registration and start over again. The operator, therefore. operates the wipe-out key WQ. In response to 'the operation of the key WO-,'ground is disconnected from wiper 2| 4 of switch SS, therebycausing the deenergization i of circuit-breaker 2|0. Circuit breaker 2|8, upon deenergizing, at contacts 222 removes ground from conductor 233, thereby opening all of the locking circuits'of all the operated set-up relays, the transfer relays, and the relays 30| to 300, 55 inclusive. VWhen all of the operated-relayshave deenergized, the circuit for energizing ithconnecting relay 322 of the first set-up relay group SUR-I is re-established over conductorffmand armatures 303 and 330. The first relay group SUR- I is therefore ready to receive the first registration in 4response to the rlrst key operated. I It should also be stated that the operator, atany time during registration, can operate the wipe-cut key WO' to close a circuit 65 over conductor |03 forenergizing the carriage return magnet |00 to cause the' carriage of printer to be returned to its normal position in case it should begin an on-'normal position at such a time.' The operator now sets up the vsame 70v registration, or a new one if desired, in the same manner as previously described.

Error and bock' space The .operator notice that at the 'time oi strik- 75 ing a key she has inadvertently struck the wrong key. For example, it will be assumed that the operator struck key Q instead of A and that she immediately noticed such error. The operator will therefore operate the back-space key BS', thereby causing the carriage to be stepped one step back in the usual manner and to operate springs BS' to ground conductor 23|. Assuming further that the code of letter Q is registered on the iirst set-up relay group SUR-l, a circuit maythen be traced from grounded conductor 28|, armature 308 and its resting contact, armatures and resting contacts on all the transfer relays of the set-up relay groups SUR-i8 to SUR- 2, inclusive, armature 335 and its working contact, and through the winding of back-space relay 32| to battery. Relay 32 I, upon energizing, at armature 336 opens the locking circuits of the operated coding set-up relays which deenergize. Transfer relay 320 is maintained energized from battery at armature 336 andgrounded conductor 233. When the back- Space key is restored, back-space relay 32| deenergizes and removes the battery in the circuit of transfer relay 320, thereby causing the deenergization of the latter relay. At armature 333, transfer relay again completes the circuit for energizing connecting relay 322 to enable the proper registration on the rst set-up relay group. The character A may now be registered on the iirst set-up relay group in the same manner as previously described. It will be noticed that the back-space circuit extends from the l last set-up relay group in each row to the iirst group in such row and therefore the operator may erase any registration on any oi the iirst seventeen groups in each row. i

Sequence switch operation In order to display the registrations on the set-up relays, the operator momentarily operates the display key DIS to ground conductor iiil by way of o-normal springs i05, which are only closed when the carriage is in its normal or iirst position. A circuit may now be traced by way of conductor ili for energizing relay 20|. Relay 20|, upon energizing, at armature 205 and its resting contact disconnects ground from conductor 232 to open the circuit to any connecting relay in case all of the rows of set-up relays are not in use, and at its working contact completes an energizing circuit for stepping relay 203 by Way of interrupter springs 2l0 as Well Yas completing a locking circuit for itself by way of normally closed springs controlled by armature 208. At armature 209, stepping relay 203 completes an obvious circuit for energizing stepping magnet 206 and grounds wiper 2li. Magnet 203, upon energizing, positions its pawl preparatory to stepping the wipers 2li to 2id, inclusive, 'and near the end of its stroke operates interrupter' springs 2| 0 to open the circuit of relay 203. Relay 203, upon deenergizing, at armature 209 opens the circuit Vto the stepping magnet 20d with the result' that the stepping magnet deenergizes to advance the izvliioiers one step and to close interrupter springs springs 205 close and cause the energization of relay 202 over an obvious circuit. Relay 202, at armature 208, opens the locking circuit oi' relay 20| which deenergizes and substitutes the ground at springs 205 for the ground at armature 206 for energizing stepping relay 1203. At armature 201. relax 202 prevents the connection of ground Aare returned to normal.

As soon as the wipers move oi normal,`

to conductor 232 until the wipers oi' switch SS Stepping relay 203 and stepping magnet 204 interact in the manner set Vforth to step the wipers 2|| to 2id, inclusive,

through a complete revolution to normal or the position shown in the drawings.

Upon the rst rotary step of the wipers 2li to ZIA, inclusive, wiper 2|| connects ground to conductor 24| extending to the time switch TS in Fig. 11; wiper 2I2 opens the circuit of circuit breaker 2| 5 which deenergizes and disconnects the commercial power source from conductor 23B; and at wipers 2|3 and 2M maintain the circuit breakers 2li and 2 i8 in energized position because such wipers are bridging wipers and therefore do not open the circuit to these circuit breakers when stepping from one contact to the next. By the removal of the commercial power source from conductor 23S, the circuits of all of the lamps in the electric sign are opened, with the result that the display is wiped out. The connection of ground to conductor 20| by way of wiper 2H causes the operation of the numeral magnet of the printer in accordance with the setting of the tens-hour wiper of the time switch, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Upon the second rotary step of the wipers of the sequence switch SS, wiper 2li connects ground to the hour wiper of the time switch to cause the operation of the numeral magnet in the printer in accordance therewith. Upon the third rotary step, wiper 2| i grounds conductor |02 to operate the space magnet |01 to cause the carriage on the printer to operate one space to separate the typing of the hours from the minutes. Upon the fourth rotary step, wiper 2li grounds conductor 223 extending to the tensminutes wiper of the time switch, and wiper 2 I3 in stepping to a dead contact opens the circuit of circuit breaker 2li which deenergizes and removes ground from lamp relay lockconductor 23S to cause the deenergization of all the lamp relays in the lamp boxes which are locked in operated position. it will be noted that this cli'- cuit is opened after the commercial source has been removed from the lamp circuit in order to prevent sparking at the lamp relay contacts. Upon the fifth rotary step, wiper 2|| grounds conductor 2M extending to the units-minute wiper of the time switch. Upon thesixth rotary step, wiper 2li grounds space conductor |02 to operate the space magnet |01; wiper 2 i2 closes an obvious circuit for energizing circuit breaker 2|6; and wiper 2| 3 closes an obvious circuit for energizing circuit breaker 2li. Circuit breaker 2|0, upon energizing, at contacts 220 connects ground to the lamp relay operate conductor 231i to operatively energize all of the lamp relays which have had their circuits prepared by the operation of the set-up relays. Circuit breaker 2H, at contacts 22|, connects ground to lamp reaches its eighth position it closes a circuit for 

